These are the dojo precepts (or dojo-kun) that I personally teach.
Perfect one's character:
Do not harbor hatred and bitterness. Negativity breeds negativity. Love one another. Enough cannot be said on this.
Dedicate oneself to others:
And not just to oneself. Selfishness leads to hate, which leads to anger. Anger consumes all in its path and is never quenched, except by effort, which rebuilds. This may be one's own effort, or the effort of another, changing your nature and your life from the inside out. This will influence those around you.
Uphold honor, bravery, and justice:
In these you will find right paths. Selfishness corrupts. Patience instructs. Only time will tell.
Never stop learning:
Always consider following right paths. Think not on the way of life or death. Do not settle for less than truth, or you will be deceived. Letting go of life too quickly is not always honorable. Let go of concern for your life or death; seek only honor and truth. Focus only on these, then pain and deception turn into lessons, or blessings. You must always seek greater understanding, so you may seek greater truth. 'Obstacles are what you see when you lose sight of your goal.' - Anonymous
Obtain victory without conflict:
The paramount of skill is victory without conflict. Preserve the whole using your empty hand. You must practice preserving the whole in every thing.
The above was excerpted from my free guide to karate, available as a free pdf ebook download - Understanding Karate-Do. I am the chief instructor at Johnston Karate.
"Understanding Karate" is also available as a professionally bound and printed trade paperback book, as well as a Kindle e-book over at our Understanding Karate-do store on Amazon.com. If you are a book store or school owner and would like to sell any of our books, visit the above page and scroll down to the "Bulk pricing" section.
Perfect one's character:
Do not harbor hatred and bitterness. Negativity breeds negativity. Love one another. Enough cannot be said on this.
Dedicate oneself to others:
And not just to oneself. Selfishness leads to hate, which leads to anger. Anger consumes all in its path and is never quenched, except by effort, which rebuilds. This may be one's own effort, or the effort of another, changing your nature and your life from the inside out. This will influence those around you.
Uphold honor, bravery, and justice:
In these you will find right paths. Selfishness corrupts. Patience instructs. Only time will tell.
Never stop learning:
Always consider following right paths. Think not on the way of life or death. Do not settle for less than truth, or you will be deceived. Letting go of life too quickly is not always honorable. Let go of concern for your life or death; seek only honor and truth. Focus only on these, then pain and deception turn into lessons, or blessings. You must always seek greater understanding, so you may seek greater truth. 'Obstacles are what you see when you lose sight of your goal.' - Anonymous
Obtain victory without conflict:
The paramount of skill is victory without conflict. Preserve the whole using your empty hand. You must practice preserving the whole in every thing.
The above was excerpted from my free guide to karate, available as a free pdf ebook download - Understanding Karate-Do. I am the chief instructor at Johnston Karate.
"Understanding Karate" is also available as a professionally bound and printed trade paperback book, as well as a Kindle e-book over at our Understanding Karate-do store on Amazon.com. If you are a book store or school owner and would like to sell any of our books, visit the above page and scroll down to the "Bulk pricing" section.
